The Half-Baked Serenade

Infobox Album | Name = The Half-Baked Serenade
Type = Album
Artist = Self


Released = November 1996
Recorded = at Matt Mahaffey's home
Genre = Rock
Length = 35:41
Label = Spongebath Records
Producer = Matt Mahaffey
Reviews =
* Pitchfork (7.5/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/21623/Self_The_HalfBaked_Serenade link]
Last album = "Subliminal Plastic Motives"
(1995)
This album = "The Half-Baked Serenade" (1996)
Next album = "Feels Like Breakin' Shit"
(1997)

"The Half-Baked Serenade" is the second album by Self. Released only though a mail-order catalog, it's become very rare and is considered the "Holy Grail" among Self releases. Due to its rarity, the album is less popular amongst Self fans than Subliminal Plastic Motives, but critical reception remained positive. The song "KidDies" became a minor hit (receiving heavy rotation at KROQ in Los Angeles), in part due to its amusing lyrics which poke fun at Marilyn Manson. With its Halloween theme, it still receives some scattered radio play nationally, particularly during October. The songs "Dielya Downtown" and "Microchip Girl" also became favorites of Self fans with the former becoming a live staple of the band. The album was a departure from the previous album in that most of the songs do not feature guitars, yet it was still firmly rooted in a pop-rock style. "The Half-Baked Serenade" reaffirmed Mahaffey's talents as a prodigal, do-it-yourself composer, performer, and engineer.

Track listing

#"Joy, The Mechanical Boy" – 4:15
#"Dielya Downtown" – 2:21
#"Crimes On Paper" – 3:01
#"KiDdies" – 2:37
#"Cinderblocks For Shoes" – 3:00
#"Song For Nelson" – 2:01
#"Preschool Days" – 3:07
#"Cater To Your Ego" – 2:02
#"Microchip Girl" – 3:43
#"Sassy Britches" – 5:06Hidden Track: When You're Alone 3:07

Personnel

Written, Produced and Performed* at Home by Matt Mahaffey

Engineered by Matt Mahaffey

Mixed by Chris James, Jason Rawlings and Matt Mahaffey at Chris's house

Mastered by Tommy Dorsey at Masterfonics

Art Direction and Design by Brian Bottcher

*except:
*Jason Rawlings - drums on track 2
*Mike Mahaffey - guitar on track 9
*Brian Rogers - guitar on track 4

External links

*http://www.selftunes.com - Self lyrics and other information